ESAC Outdoor Art Show 2027

Summary

The ESAC OUTDOOR ART SHOW is March 19-21, 2027 each day between 10am-5pm and is located on the grounds of the Eastern Shore Art Center and the surrounding downtown area of Fairhope, Alabama. It is within walking distance of Mobile Bay and many specialty shops and restaurants. Now in its 55th year, the ESAC Outdoor Art Show features international and regional fine artists and craftspeople, attracting more than 350,000 visitors each spring.

The Eastern Shore Art Center connects people of all ages and abilities with the arts through education, exhibitions and outreach activities.

The Eastern Shore Art Association, dba the Eastern Shore Art Center, is funded solely through private memberships, donations, and grants. The ESAC Outdoor Art Show is its largest fundraiser. The Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and relies on the goodwill of the community for its continuation.

General information

Artist must submit an application with the purchase a $45 non-refundable jury fee by November 1, 2026. If Invited, Artist Booth is $375 (Non-ESAC Member) or $350 (ESAC Artist Level Member).

Food Vendors must submit an application with the purchase a $45 Food Vendor non-refundable jury fee by November 1, 2026. If Invited, Food Vendor Booth is $300.

If an application is accepted, but not confirmed by the December 1, 2026 Purchase Deadline, the application will be moved to the waitlist category.

Artists and Food Vendors may only apply once. No refund will be made due to inclement weather or if withdrawn before show.

An accepted application is a commitment to participate in the 2027 ESAC Outdoor Art Show.

Awards & exhibitors' reception

• Isabel Jackson Best of Show ($2500)
• Bob Mullican Award ($1500)
• First Place ($500 each): Painting (Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor), Photography, Drawing and Graphics (includes Pastel), Sculpture, Ceramics, Fine Craft (includes Fine Jewelry), Mixed Media
• Merit Awards ($300 each): see categories above
• Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival Foundation Award ($200)

Rules and regulations

• An accepted application is a commitment to participate. No refund will be made for cancellation, withdrawal, inclement weather, or any other reason.
• No stand-in proxy exhibitors will be permitted. Only artists accompanying their own original work may participate.
• Only original work in any medium, including original graphics, will be accepted.
• 75% of artwork on display should be original. Artwork produced by photomechanical processes must be identified as such and may not exceed 25% of the work on display. Reproductions will not be judged.
• China painting, tole painting, velvet painting, and items manufactured via commercial molds, patterns or kits are not acceptable.
• Bodycare, supplements, candles and consumable items not acceptable.
• Exhibitors must confine their display to their 10' x 10' booth inside the allotted 10' x 12' space. 40lbs of weight per leg is mandatory; no anchors or nails may be driven into the streets.
• The show area will be patrolled Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights by the City of Fairhope Police Department.
• Sales Tax must be paid to the State of Alabama (4%), Baldwin County (3%) and the City of Fairhope (2%). Total tax is 9%.
• County business license required under the #174 Transient Vendor code. For Food Vendors, a Temporary Concession Permit with the Baldwin County Health Department is required at least 2 weeks in advance.

Booth information and fees

Available Artist Booth Spaces: 10 x 10 Booths - $375.00 ($350.00 with ESAC Artist Membership). Limited amount of Double Booths available, first come, first served.

Available Food Vendor Booth Spaces: spaces based on vendor needs - $300.00.

Booth Fee: Purchases are conducted through ZAPP via credit card, check, or PayPal.

Set Up Information: Set up for the show will begin Thursday evening, March 18. Set-up must be completed by 12:00am Thursday night. Exhibitors are expected to keep their display in place until the show closes at 5pm Sunday, and take down must be conducted immediately after show closing. Artist booths will be located on Section Street between Oak and Magnolia. Food Vendor booths will be located on Oak Street in front of the Art Center.

Jury details

• Average number of applications submitted each year: 300
• Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 100
• Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 0
• How returning artists are selected: Selected by on-site jury
• Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: Body/Healthcare Vendors
• How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor
• Within a medium category, applications are sorted and viewed by: Random Order
• Jurors score applications using the following scale: Yes, No, or Maybe
• Number of jurors scoring applications: 3
• The show organizes the jurors for a: Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories
• Jurors score: Convened as a group in one room
• Am I allowed to observe the jury process?: Jury process is closed